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      5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
      • (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the same event
      • (5b) Resolution using two stages of the same process
      • (5c) Resolution using broad-literal interpretation.
      This examples applies to Rashis Gn29-25a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn29-25a.htm
      Brief Summary: Rachel told Leah how Jacob liked to be flirted with. On their wedding night (with Leah) Jacob thought he was marrying someone who knew what he wanted physically. In the morning Leah went back to her old self and Jacob found out he was double-crossed.

The table below presents two contradictory verses. Both verses speak about Jacob's wedding night The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. ...And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her. while the other verse states And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? why then have you deceived me? We see the contradiction---Was Jacob double crossed by day or night? Rashi simply resolves this using the 2 Aspects method: Jacob wanted Rachel. Rachel knew how Jacob liked to be flirted with. She shared his flirting preferences with Leah. When Jacob married Leah he thought he was marrying someone who understood his physical needs. But in the morning Leah resumed to her old self and it was only then that Jacob understood he was double-crossed.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
Jacob was double crossed (Leah vs Rachel) by evening. Gn29-18,23 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter. ... And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in to her.
Jacob only found out in the morning that he was double crossed Gn29-25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? did not I serve with you for Rachel? why then have you deceived me?
Resolution: 2 Aspects Jacob wanted Rachel. Rachel knew how Jacob liked to be flirted with. She shared his flirting preferences with Leah. When Jacob married Leah he thought he was marrying someone who understood his physical needs. But in the morning Leah resumed to her old self and it was only then that Jacob understood he was doubl e-crossed.

Advanced Rashi: This is a beautiful example of refutation of a flippant reading of Rashi. Rashi literally says: Rachel did not want her sister Leah to be embarassed. Jacob had personal signs with Rachel since he expected to be double-crossed. But Rachel gave these signs to Leah. Notice that Rashi already leaves out the more explicit statements, found in some midrashim, that Rachel hid under the marital bed so that Jacob should think he was relating to Rachel.

From a conceptual point of view I am interpreting the Rashi comment Rachel gave Leah the personal signs she and Jacob had agreed on to mean that Rachel shared highly personal preferences of Jacob in flirting. I would similarly interpret the phrase found in other midrashim Rachel hid under the bed to mean Rachel shared personal flirting signs with Leah.

From a content point of view I don't see any religious value in interpreting this Midrash literally. Does it enhance our admiration of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs that they swapped identities in marital bedrooms? Surely not. For this reason I think the straightforward social interpretation I have given is superior.

Men and women view physical relations differently. Men are more biological while women are more personal. Men are more likely to select a spouse based on physical ##### specific men to facilitate marriage. As is clear from the Jacob-Rachel-Leah story such attempts, however noble their intention, do not always work. Rather the social area requires special emphasis on equality of sensitivity in all areas.


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